Chapter 30: This Is the Power of the Sharingan
"Kakashi, let's spar. I've been learning some sword techniques lately."
Just a few steps out the door, Seiji turned and spoke to Kakashi. Running into Orochimaru and Tsunade had been a complete accident—he hadn't forgotten the real reason he'd come today: to see if he could trigger a new attribute.
The White Fang of the Leaf, renowned across the shinobi world for his short blade, was said—by none other than Minato Namikaze—to be respected even by the Legendary Sannin. That spoke volumes about Sakumo Hatake's strength. And if his swordsmanship was that formidable, then the techniques he passed down must be valuable too.
Whether they were a Hatake family secret or Sakumo's own creation, Seiji wanted to see for himself.
"…Alright."
Kakashi hesitated briefly, then nodded. His mind was in a fog anyway—perhaps a sparring match could clear it up. He turned and said he needed to retrieve a blade.
"I've got one," Seiji said, drawing a small katana from his back.
"You're not using a wooden sword?"
"Nope."
Seiji shook his head. Wooden training swords felt completely different from metal ones. Once your body adapted to one, switching required extra effort. Better to train with the real thing from the start. Kakashi was a genius—he wouldn't actually get hurt. And Seiji had the Sharingan. Getting injured wasn't a concern—and he wasn't about to hurt Kakashi, either.
"…Fine."
Seeing how serious Seiji was, Kakashi climbed in through a nearby window and returned with a short blade of his own. Seiji glanced at it casually. The blade was completely white, sleek with a subtle metallic gleam—he couldn't even guess what kind of metal it was made from. But it was definitely not the kind of weapon he could afford.
Even the katana in Seiji's hand was secondhand—and a particularly small one at that. It wasn't that he didn't want a longer sword—every extra inch meant a much higher price. His finances simply couldn't support that kind of luxury.
"Let's begin."
Kakashi and Seiji moved to a more open part of the yard.
"Alright."
Seiji nodded. As soon as the words left his mouth—
Kakashi dashed in, blade already drawn. The sword sliced through the air with a sharp, whistling wind. Seiji's eyes narrowed as he quickly raised his katana to block.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The clash of steel echoed through the yard. Blades collided, sparks occasionally flashing in the sunlight before vanishing in a blur of motion. Seiji frowned slightly. Kakashi's swordplay was no joke. Compared to his own still-rough techniques, Kakashi pressed forward with precision, each movement clean and efficient, leaving no opening.
"Even if I don't trigger a new attribute, at least I'll learn something useful," Seiji thought. His stamina was better than Kakashi's. Even though his swings wasted more time and energy, with the combined effect of his Yotsuki clan bloodline and his attribute bonuses, he could hold his own through endurance. It was a perfect way to identify his weaknesses.
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Back inside the house…
"That guy… didn't even say goodbye to me…"
Shizune secretly peeked out at the departing Seiji. Last time, her curiosity got the better of her, and she ended up staring at him—only to get caught. That brief moment had left a deep impression on her.
"…He really is starting to look the part," she murmured. Even in this short span of time, Shizune could see Seiji had grown noticeably taller. With a small katana strapped to his back, the fan-shaped Uchiha clan crest on his shirt was just barely visible beneath it. She had to admit—Seiji was looking more and more like the shinobi from Kumogakure she'd once imagined. The only difference was that his skin wasn't as dark, and his lips weren't as thick.
"What are you daydreaming about?"
Tsunade's voice snapped Shizune out of her thoughts.
"S-sorry, Lady Tsunade."
"You should leave too. From here on, it's just between us."
Tsunade's expression had grown serious. She fixed her gaze on Shizune. In the world of shinobi, the less you know, the safer you are. Too much knowledge could be more dangerous than ignorance.
"…Understood, Lady Tsunade."
Shizune quickly gathered the sealed scrolls into her bag and bowed as she left the room.
"Heh… so young," Orochimaru chuckled. His mouth opened at an unnatural angle, like a snake unhinging its jaw, and he spat out a scroll covered in slime from deep in his throat.
"Orochimaru! Can you not act like a real snake for once? Gross."
Tsunade scowled, clearly disgusted.
"Alright, Sakumo-senpai, let's talk business."
---
Outside in the courtyard, Shizune hurried along. She had planned to take a short walk nearby when the sharp clash of blades drew her attention.
"What are Seiji and Kakashi doing?"
Looking up, she could just barely make out the two figures through the wooden fence of the yard. Seiji and Kakashi were engaged in what looked like a sword match.
"Kakashi's father is the legendary White Fang—Konoha's own White Fang. And Seiji's sparring with Kakashi?"
Shizune was genuinely surprised. She was in the same class as Seiji, after all. But she'd always kept a low profile. Ever since her uncle, Dan Katō, had died, Tsunade had kept her close. As far as she remembered, Seiji had never sparred with Kakashi before. The only notable match she'd heard about was when he beat Obito—the class underdog.
Her curiosity piqued, Shizune walked closer to watch.
---
A few minutes later—
Beads of sweat had formed on Seiji's forehead. His stamina was solid, no doubt about that. If they were using wooden swords, he'd barely be tired. But the small katana in his hand was real—iron-forged and heavy.
"Kakashi, your swordsmanship is impressive… but now it's my turn to get serious."
Seiji closed his eyes for a moment—and when he opened them again, his left eye glowed crimson. It was a red so deep it looked like it could bleed. Within that red eye, a single tomoe slowly rotated, orbiting like a blade on a wheel.
Suddenly, Kakashi's movements slowed dramatically in Seiji's vision. It was like watching a swift bird suddenly trapped in molasses. Every flap of its wings carried weight—dragging its actions down, making them easier to read.
The instant the Sharingan activated, Kakashi faltered slightly, internally noting: "The Sharingan…"
There were other Uchiha in their year, but only Seiji had awakened his eye. In truth, only a small number of Uchiha ever unlocked the Sharingan. This was Kakashi's first time fighting someone who had it. He gripped his blade tighter, trying to compensate with speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades continued to collide in bursts of metallic sparks. Kakashi's brows furrowed—his relaxed demeanor was now completely gone. After several exchanges, Seiji was slowly shifting from passive defense to aggressive offense. The tide of battle had clearly turned.
Each of Kakashi's attacks now seemed to be perfectly anticipated, as if Seiji could read them in advance. Where once he moved freely, now Kakashi's rhythm was being disrupted.
Clang!
Seiji seized on a brief opening and countered, his blade sliding against Kakashi's short sword and releasing a piercing metallic hum. Kakashi took a step back. His grip on the hilt tightened as a hint of tension settled over his face.
"So that's it… The Sharingan doesn't just read enemy movements—it elevates your reflexes to a whole new level…"
"Exactly. That's the power of the Sharingan."
Seiji nodded calmly. Once the Sharingan awakens, a user's perception and insight rise dramatically.
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